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CCiinncciinnnnaattii RReeddss MMeeddiiaa CClliippss JJaannuuaarryy 1100tthh,, 22001177 Cincinnati Reds Press Clippings January 10, 2017 THIS DAY IN REDS HISTORY 1903-A meeting at the St. Nicholas Hotel in Cincinnati between the National League and American League produce the “Cincinnati Peace Treaty.” A governing structure and a three-member governing board, consisting of the president of the two leagues and a club president agreed to by both, named the “National Commission,” is the result MLB.COM Inbox: Does Phillips' vetoed trade resonate with GMs? Beat reporter Mark Sheldon answers fans' questions By Mark Sheldon / MLB.com | @m_sheldon | January 9th, 2017 + 16 COMMENTS We're just over a month away from Reds pitchers and catchers reporting to Goodyear, Ariz., so it's a great time to tackle another set of your questions about the season ahead. Will the news of Brandon Phillips' blocked trade influence MLB general managers to trade players before they reach the 10-and-5 benchmark? -- @theplaceofgrace via Twitter You better believe that every Major League baseball operations department had the 10-and-5 dates flagged for their long-tenured players long before Phillips blocked deals. Under the rules in the Basic Agreement, players with at least 10 years logged in the Majors, including the last five with their current team, gain full no-trade protection. Roster turnover is more prevalent now, as are players leaving clubs as free agents. That makes this type of no-trade right very hard to get, and especially hard to give up. In the case of Phillips and the Reds, he earned his 10-and-5 rights on Aug. 25, 2014. The Reds might have traded him before the non-waiver Trade Deadline that year, but he was on the disabled list and missed five weeks with surgery to repair a torn ligament in his left thumb. Before the Winter Meetings it was all about trading Zack Cozart and Phillips. After the Winter Meetings it seemed like the Reds wanted to hold onto them. Is there any hope that the Reds trade both or one of them? -- Cody M., Indianapolis, Ind. Holding on to them and wanting to hold on to them are two different things. There just isn't a high demand for shortstops or second basemen this offseason. It would be no travesty if the Reds roll into Spring Training with both players. Things can change, not just in Reds camp, but around the game due to injuries or other developments. And as I touched on in the first question, Phillips has to approve any trade and we learned last week (via a source) that he declined to accept a deal to the Braves back in November. Matt Elliott @elliottm_3 @m_sheldon How do you see the closing duties being worked out, with three viable candidates? #redsinbox 3:18 PM - 5 Jan 2017 Retweets likes I'd love to see manager Bryan Price be as innovative as managers were in the 2016 postseason. I could see Raisel Iglesias, Michael Lorenzen, Drew Storen and Tony Cingrani all getting a shot at different high-leverage spots, multiple innings and closing. But it's harder to run a reliever out for two or three innings multiple times a week over a 162-game season compared to the playoffs, when there are chances to rest relievers every three to four days. Marky Mark @Mark11Walters @m_sheldon Could you see a reunion with Ryan Hanigan? #RedsInbox #Reds 2:31 PM - 5 Jan 2017 The Reds could use a veteran third catcher, potentially, if the currently rehabilitating Devin Mesoraco isn't ready for a big workload. Hanigan grew up in the Reds' organization, played for Cincinnati from 2007-13, was well-liked and did a great job with the pitchers. But he's also 36, coming off an injury-filled 2016 with the Red Sox and both his offensive and defensive numbers have declined since his Reds years. But if he's healthy now, bringing him back is something I would consider. Barring trades, Jose Peraza is a lock as a backup. With Dilson Herrera likely being sent to Triple-A, how likely is it Arismendy Alcantara makes the cut? He seems high on the depth charts for backup infield/outfield behind Peraza. -- Russ S., Orlando, Fla. It's possible because Alcantara has some power and the defensive versatility to be a bench guy. But he has yet to hit with any consistency in his big leagues stints with the Cubs and A's, and he strikes out … a lot. Considering Homer Bailey's big contract and the fact that he's from Texas, do you think the Reds will send him to the Rangers or Astros? I know the Rangers were asking for Dan Straily and Anthony DeSclafani. -- Dan M., Noblesville, Ind. Right now, it's hard to trade a pitcher like Bailey who has had two arm surgeries, missed most of the last two seasons and is owed $68 million for three more years. DeSclafani and Straily were attractive to clubs because they were much more affordable and under club control for three or four more seasons. And they have healthy arms. Start Trek: Reds could add vet to rotation Experienced starter would add insurance, healthy competition By Mark Sheldon / MLB.com | @m_sheldon | January 9th, 2017 + 31 COMMENTS CINCINNATI -- The Reds' Hot Stove season is entering its final month before pitchers and catchers report to Spring Training on Feb. 13. There are still numerous areas the club would like to bolster before it gets to camp. One prediction: The Reds will land a veteran starting pitcher from the free-agent market to compete for the lone vacancy in the rotation. Looking for bargains, Reds general manager Dick Williams has more than a few things going in his favor regarding the remaining free-agent starters. In what was already a lukewarm market in terms of quality, there is a large supply of arms and not a ton of demand. Jake Peavy, Jered Weaver and Doug Fister are all available and fit the Reds' needs, but guys like Colby Lewis, Bud Norris or Lucas Harrell are perhaps better options for the club's budget. Former Giants ace Tim Lincecum is trying to make a comeback and could be a good fit, as well. The Reds already have four starters expected to lock down rotaion spots before camp: Anthony DeSclafani, Homer Bailey, Dan Straily and Brandon Finnegan. Several of their prized young pitchers are also in the running for the fifth spot, including Cody Reed, Amir Garrett -- Cincinnati's No. 2 prospect, per MLBPipeline.com -- and Robert Stephenson (No. 4). Tim Adleman isn't a prospect, but he impressed at the end of last season, earning a shot. So why pay to add a veteran? It's simple: insurance and a chance to push the competition. The last thing the Reds can afford is a repeat of the second half of 2015 and first half of '16, when they didn't have enough quality arms. Manager Bryan Price liked what his projected rotation looked like heading into camp last year. Then one disaster struck after another as DeSclafani, Michael Lorenzen and Jon Moscot went down with injuries and Homer Bailey wasn't ready to return from Tommy John surgery. Raisel Iglesias was also injured early on. Price had to use 15 different starters to get through the year, revealing that many of younger guys weren't quite ready. Straily, a waiver claim just before Opening Day, proved to be a steal, however, with 14 wins and 191 1/3 innings. The Reds were less fortunate after they tried to hedge their bets with free agent Alfredo Simon, who was brought back on a one- year, $2 million deal in mid-March with hopes that he could eat innings and provide stability. Instead, Simon went 2-7 with a 9.36 ERA and 2.045 WHIP over 58 2/3 innings in 15 games (11 starts) and missed much of the season with shoulder issues. Whoever the Reds get may receive a nice opportunity, but they also must enter with their eyes wide open. Any veteran, especially on a likely one-year deal, must be prepared to pitch in a relief role should they not win the job against one of the kids or if they falter during the season. But if the prices are reasonable enough to keep the risk low, the Reds have little to lose by giving a job-seeking veteran a shot. CINCINNATI ENQUIRER Israel trip a respite for rehabbing Reds pitcher Jon Moscot C. Trent Rosecrans , [email protected] Published 1:14 p.m. ET Jan. 9, 2017 If there’s a common complaint among those who have undergone ulnar collateral ligament replacement surgery, it’s the monotony of the rehabilitation process. While UCL replacement surgery, better-known as “Tommy John surgery,” is a relatively quick surgery, the rehab is long, lasting at least a year, usually more. The rehab is tedious and slow, requiring step-by-step advances even before the patient is able to throw a baseball again. Reds’ right-hander Jon Moscot is in the middle of that process right now and will finally get to start throwing next week at the Reds’ complex in Arizona. On Monday, he spoke to The Enquirer by phone from Israel, where he’s been able to take some time to break up the monotony of his rehab, participating in a publicity tour for Team Israel. Moscot, who is from California but still has family in Israel, arrived in the country last week as one of 10 Jewish players from either the big leagues or the minors.